The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is great mid-range robot. It is capable of cleaning and has some neat features.
It does a great job of cleaning and uses row-by-row patterns for cleaning floors. It also performs well on rugs and can be able to maneuver over tassels of rugs.
Features
The Shark i has a number of outstanding features, such as its smart navigation technology and self-empty dock. Its IQ navigation system utilizes an array of grids for cleaning room-by-room. This makes sure that no area of your house is missed. It also empties the dustbin into the bagless base after each cleaning.
The i is controlled via both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it using your voice without the need for an extra remote. The vacuum also has a button on the top to manually control the vacuum.
The app lets you create the profile of your vacuum, label it, schedule cleans, and view cleaning history. You can define virtual boundaries to keep the i from entering areas where it might get stuck or fall over things that are fragile. You can also choose different power modes to help save energy when doing tough jobs.
Other noteworthy features include its NeverStuck technology as well as two grippy wheels that help it get over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It can also detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords, which is useful for pet owners with small shedding dogs or cats.
The i comes with three power settings including an energy-saving Eco Mode, an initial Normal mode, and a high-power max mode. You can design customized cleaning schedules, which are ideal if you have a large home that requires regular cleaning.
The i is able to be programmed to return to its dock and empty its dustbin however, you must keep an eye on the battery life because it can overestimate how long it has left. It can also get confused and restart itself when you instruct it to 'Clean Your House', which is why you must be cautious about when you begin or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot has a sleek design and a premium look. Its main drive wheels are covered in rubber treads, allowing the robot excellent maneuverability. It has a small footprint and can fit under most furniture. It is able to climb over carpets with high piles and get under couches despite its size.
The robot has multiple sensors that help it map out your home, including cliff and boundary sensors. It also has a module to detect and eliminates obstacles. The app allows you to manage the robot's settings and schedule cleaning times, and see its cleaning history. The app is simple to use, but it doesn't allow you to create virtual no-go zones.
The Shark i robot can be an excellent choice for those with no floors. However, it is not able to remove large quantities of debris like hair of pets. It also gets stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt compartment may get full and make it difficult to empty it after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't come with a self emptying dock. You will have empty the dust bin manually once it is full.
The battery in the vacuum is short and it runs out frequently before it is able to return to its base. It's also loud and the app doesn't allow you to choose specific areas to clean. It's best utilized in conjunction with a different robot vacuum , and not as a stand-alone device. The benefit of delegating your vacuuming to robots is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior mapping and navigation capabilities, as well as self-emptying docks. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
While it can be tricky to get used to the rumbling noise that comes with any robot vacuum, the Shark IQ seems to perform quite well in the vacuuming department. It isn't confused and doesn't retrace steps like older Shark robots, like the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ also does a good job at mapping your home by creating maps in the app which allows you to label rooms so that it can determine where to go, thereby making it more efficient than ION 85 in terms of not having to go over the same areas again.
However, it does struggle with bare floors and rugs. While it is able to pick up small pieces of debris, it could be overwhelmed by pet hair and larger items such as rice and cereal. Its dirt compartment can also get full quickly and its suction capacity will begin to diminish as it fills. This type of robot isn't suitable for floors that are not bare or carpets with a lot of pile. It is also prone to get clogged when it comes across furniture that is tangled or tipped, as well as lingering items like rug tassels, electrical cords, and rug tassels.
It's easy for you to solve these problems by emptying the bin at the base. The bin automatically empty into the bin when it is full. This means you don't have to worry about having to empty the dust bin at the end of each run. The extra-large bin requires emptying it every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long run.
The SharkClean App allows you to set up different cleaning modes and check the battery life, make schedules, look up your cleaning history, and set virtual boundaries that prevent it from entering areas where it might get stuck or knock fragile objects over. The iQ can also be operated by remote control, which features the ability to direct it around your home.
Battery Life
Even in its high-suction "Max" mode the robot vacuum has excellent battery life. It can run up to an hour in this mode, which is more than enough to complete most cleaning tasks. It also has a more efficient energy-efficient Eco mode that increases its maximum runtime to more than 160 minutes. This feature is beneficial when you often switch between rooms or worry about running out of battery while using the robot.
This robot vacuum also has numerous impressive automation features. The companion app lets you check the remaining battery life and send it to a specific area, pause or resume cleaning, and set different power modes. It also works with voice commands if you own a compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device. It also has physical boundary marking strips to ensure it stays out of certain areas.
Although it is able to maneuver well but this Shark model isn't able to soak away bulky debris, especially when its dirt compartment is stuffed. It also gets stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It can also get stuck between the legs and the legs of chairs.
Overall overall, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is an excellent option for those looking for a basic robot with decent mapping capabilities and easy-to-use features. It's not as good as the Roborock S7 in most cases. The latter feels sturdier and more durable, has less demanding maintenance requirements, is able to bear lower costs for recurring expenses, recharges faster, has an extended battery life, performs better on bare floors and carpets, and is able to move over obstacles more easily.